SoomaaNational Park was founded to protect the big marshes, flooded meadows, forests and
cultural heritage in the south-western part of the transition zone of Estonia.
The 390 km² SoomaaNational Park is located on the border between Pärnu
and ViljandiCounties, on a vast area untouched by
human activity.

As the name states, 80% of the surface area of SoomaaNational Park
comprises marshes with paludified meadows and bog forests. Life in Soomaa
depends on the weather more than in any part of Estonia. The rivers of Soomaa
cannot take in all the water coming down from the Sakala Uplands, so the water
spills over to the meadows and into forests and also floods the roads, cutting
off the connection with the rest of the world. In case of a major flood, there
can be a water field of approximately 175 km² ranging up to 7-8 km in width. Marshes
with steep slopes will tower out of the water as islands. The dwellers of
Soomaa have called the floods a fifth season, because it occurs here again
every year. The fifth season is the best time for visiting the landscape of
Soomaa by using a canoe or narrow boat for it.

RMK is the organiser of visits to the SoomaaNational Park
since February 2009.